Method and Apparatus for Retracting Mooring Lines

ABSTRACT

A boat mooring line dispenser comprises a reel onto which a mooring line or a respective mooring line (if there is more than one reel) can be wound. The reel has resilient biasing means urging it to rotate in a direction such as to wind in the line. A unidirectional clutch mechanism acts, when engaged, in opposition to the resilient biasing means so that the line can be drawn out and will remain in its extended condition. The unidirectional clutch can be released selectively to cause the line to be withdrawn automatically by winding it onto the reel by the resilient biasing means. A cleat, or jamming cleats secure the line when extended so that the moored vessel is held securely. A damper or brake prevents rewinding of the line at excessive speed.

1. PRIORITY CLAIMS

This application claims priority to and is a continuation of PCTApplication No. PCT/GB2010/000831 titled Improvements In Or Relating ToRetracting Mooring Lines filed Apr. 27, 2010, which claims priority toGreat Britain Application no. 0907269.5 filed Apr. 28, 2009.

2. FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to retracting mooring lines andin particular to a method and apparatus for storing and dispensing aboat mooring line.

3. RELATED ART

When a boat is moored to a jetty or pier, or to a dock or another boat,or even to a buoy, it is necessary to secure the vessel by at least one,and preferably two mooring lines which are usually secured to a cleat onthe vessel and a bollard or other fixing point on the shore or a fixedpoint on the other vessel. For this reason it is necessary for all boatsto carry suitable lengths of mooring line with them at all times, andwhen sailing or motoring the mooring line is a potential trip hazard orat least an inconvenience unless it is stowed neatly. In practice,however, this frequently does not happen with the result that, whenneeded, often in a hurry, the mooring line is tangled or otherwiseinconveniently enmeshed in other equipment or other lines on the boatand cannot be deployed quickly and easily.

The present invention seeks to provide a storage device by which sparelengths of mooring line can be almost automatically and routinely coiledaway out of sight so as not to be in the way of normal operationson-board the boat, whilst nevertheless being readily available andquickly and easily dispensed when needed.

This objective has been addressed in the past, with various boat mooringdevices being described. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,846,090 describesa boat mooring device capable of storing and dispensing a rope used tomoor a boat or the like. In this prior art device a spring-biased reelassembly carrying a rope is rotatably mounted within a case. The reelassembly is urged by a spring in a rope take-up direction, and a lockdevice is provided for selectively inhibiting rotation of the reel. Thislock assembly comprises a spring pawl which engages a ratchet wheelwhich rotates with the reel to allow the spring bias to coil up thespring, but prevent it from being withdrawn. A lock-release devicedisengages the pawl from the ratchet to allow the reel to turn in eitherdirection for deployment. This device, however, does not prevent therope shortening by operation of the spring should the tension in themooring line be reduced, for example upon changes in the tide which maycause the vessel to approach closer the mooring point. This isdisadvantageous if the mooring line has been carefully set to allow forsuch changes since a shorter mooring line may cause listing of thevessel when the mooring conditions change. This problem is addressed insubsequent U.S. Pat. No. 6,095,075 which described a retractable boatline for mooring a boat having a payoff reel contained within astationary housing. The reel is freely rotatable and provided with anumber of detent openings into which a locking pin may be introducedwhen the reel is in a desired orientation. The reel is thus, held, in afixed position so that the length of the mooring line is invariable.However, this is not entirely convenient when mooring a vessel since itis necessary first to draw off an excess length of mooring line and thento lock the reel, otherwise, when under no tension as the mooringoperation is conducted, the line would be rewound by the spring.

The present invention seeks, therefore, to provide a mooring linestorage and dispensing apparatus which allows more convenient use andovercomes the disadvantages of the prior art.

SUMMARY

According to one aspect of the present invention, therefore, apparatusfor storing and dispensing a boat mooring line comprises a reel ontowhich a mooring line can be wound, resilient biasing means urging thereel to rotate in a direction such as to wind in the line, and aunidirectional clutch mechanism acting, when engaged, in opposition tothe resilient biasing means, and means for selectively disengaging theunidirectional clutch whereby to allow the line to be wound in by theresilient biasing means.

In use, therefore, the line is normally tidily wound on the reel. As thevessel approaches the shore or other mooring point, a sailor may grasp afree end of the line and draw out as much as may be required. If hisattention is distracted by movement of the vessel or nearby vessels, forexample if the sea is rough, or any other event occurs as the vesselapproaches its mooring, relaxation of his grip on the mooring line willnot result in the mooring line being rewound as would be the case in thedevice described in the prior art patents discussed above. The sailormay therefore tie off the line as required. Then, if there is anysurplus, selective disengagement of the unidirectional clutch will allowthe surplus line to be wound in the resilient biasing means of the reel.

The apparatus of the present invention may comprise, or furthercomprise, means for securing a line against withdrawal from the reel.The means for securing the line against withdrawal from the reel may besimply a cleat fixed or fixable to a casing of the apparatus. Such cleatmay be a conventional fixed cleat or may be a so-called “jamming” cleatwhich clamps the line when it is placed in the appropriate position.Alternatively, the means for securing the line against withdrawal maycomprise means for locking the reel against rotation in the unwindingdirection (the unidirectional clutch already locks it against windingin). The locking means may, of course, provide additional secure lockingin either direction.

In one embodiment of the invention the means for locking the reelagainst rotation acts to lock the unidirectional clutch.

Because a boat may be moving violently on the swell or waves of thewater during mooring it is important that all deck-mounted equipment canbe operated securely even when wet and even when the vessel is movingviolently. For this reason the means for selectively disengaging theunidirectional clutch is preferably a boss or protrusion which requiresonly to be depressed by a hand or foot. A foot-operable pedal isparticularly convenient since the sailor may have both hands alreadyoccupied with the line and/or with clinging on to the safety rail of thevessel.

It is a particularly advantageous feature of the present invention thatthe resilient biasing means which bias the reel act to provide asubstantially constant restoring force as the mooring line is withdrawnfrom the reel regardless of the length of line withdrawn. Withconventional resilient biasing means, such as clock springs, the forcerequired to withdraw the line increases progressively as the spring iswound up. However, in circumstances where it may be necessary to utilizethe full length of the line, the force necessary to withdraw the finalpart of the line from the reel could become inconveniently excessive,resulting in failure successfully to moor the boat in difficult orinclement conditions. By having a biasing means with a constantrestoring force the actions required by the sailor dealing with themooring line can be predictably regularised.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, therefore, theresilient biasing means comprise a spirally wound strip spring with areflex curvature. The spirally wound strip spring may be carried on aspring-carrier spool freely rotatably mounted on a carrier member onwhich the reel is also rotatably mounted, with a secondary spool mountedfor rotation coaxially with the spool and being connected to a free endof the strip spring whereby to unwind it from the spring-carrier spoolas the reel is turned in the directional sense corresponding tounwinding of the mooring line from the reel.

In one embodiment of the invention the unidirectional clutch is aratchet and pawl arrangement, the ratchet teeth being formed on orcarried by the spool or on a component mounted for rotation therewith.The pawl is preferably urged into engagement with the ratchet teeth bypawl-biasing means and it is particularly convenient if the pawl isformed as a first order lever with the ratchet disengagement meansacting at the end opposite the pawl tooth. A push rod, one end of whichis contactable with the pawl lever, and being linearly displaceablebetween a first or release position and a second, or ratchet engagementposition, can provide for easy operation since the end of a push rod canbe formed suitably into a push button for manual or pedal operation asdescribed above.

Preferably the push rod is independently biased towards theratchet-engagement position and, likewise, it is preferred that the pushrod has an exposed end remote from the one pawl-contacting end thereoffor operation by hand or foot.

Alternatively, the unidirectional clutch may be a so-called rope clutch,which allows free running of the line in one direction but which locksthe line against running in the other direction by means of a camaction; the cam can be released by a lever to allow the line to run inboth directions.

Apart from a conventional cleat or the above-described reel lockingmeans, the means for securing mooring line against withdrawal from thereel may alternatively comprise or include a jamming cleat or some formof reel clamping means.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the reel may be mounted on areel support member which depends from a support plate mountableparallel to the deck of a boat. In this way the entire storage anddispensing apparatus may be located beneath the deck in a concealedlocation where it leaves the decks clear for normal sailing operations.

It is particularly convenient if the ratchet is carried for rotationwith the secondary spool on the side of the reel support member remotefrom the reel itself.

In a particularly convenient embodiment a second unidirectional clutchacts in an opposite directional sense from the unidirectional clutch,there being means for selectively disengaging one clutch or the other toallow the line to be drawn in or paid out respectively. The twounidirectional clutches may be respective ratchet and pawl arrangements,the ratchet teeth being formed on or carried by the spool or a componentmounted for rotation therewith. Conveniently the two unidirectionalclutches are jamming cleats acting directly on the line itself. Themeans for selectively disengaging a unidirectional clutch may beoperable by means of a foot pedal or foot-operated push button.

There may also be provided means for damping or braking the motion ofthe line in at least one direction of motion. The damping or brakingmeans may act on the spool or a component mounted for rotationtherewith. In one embodiment the damping or braking means act to damprotation in one direction and offers substantially no resistance tomotion in the other. Alternatively the damping or braking means may actin both directions of rotation and be connected to the spool orcomponent mounted for rotation therewith by a unidirectional clutch.

The present invention also comprehends apparatus for storing anddispensing a boat mooring line, comprising a reel onto which a mooringline can be wound, resilient biasing means, which may be constanttension biasing means, for urging the reel to turn in sense such as towind the line onto the reel, and means for securing the line againstwithdrawal from the reel.

Alternatively, the present invention can be considered to comprehendapparatus for storing and dispensing a boat mooring line, comprising areel onto which a mooring line can be wound, the reel having twoparallel spaced lateral cheeks separated by a distance not substantiallygreater than twice the diameter of the mooring line itself, whereby toavoid jamming of adjacent turns of the mooring line when wound onto thereel.

Other systems, methods, features and advantages of the invention will beor will become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination ofthe following figures and detailed description. It is intended that allsuch additional systems, methods, features and advantages be includedwithin this description, be within the scope of the invention, and beprotected by the accompanying claims

The snatching loads on the boat pitching and rolling in a swell can belarge and the apparatus of the invention must be robust to withstandthese loads.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasisinstead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention.In the figures, like reference numerals designate corresponding partsthroughout the different views. An embodiment of the present inventionwill now be more particularly described, by way of example, withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the main components of anembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view from below and one side of the device shownin FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view cut away illustrating the ratchet configuration;

FIG. 4 is an end view, seen in the direction of the arrow A of FIG. 3

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the ratchet release control or foot pedalillustrated in the other drawings; and

FIG. 6 is a side view of a line brake or jamming device forming part ofan embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the drawings, it will be appreciated that the devicewhen assembled is enclosed within a casing, generally indicated 11 inFIG. 2, to protect it from the elements.

The mooring line dispensing and control device of the invention isintended to be deck-mounted with the working components lying beneaththe deck. For this purpose the mooring line 12 is wound on drum 13carried on a support plate 14 which is rigidly connected to and dependdownwardly from a deck plate 15. In use a rectangular opening is formedin the deck of a vessel to receive the device, and it is lowered throughthis opening with the opening itself being covered by the deck plate 15.Fixings, such as bolts or screws (not shown) secure the deck plate is inplace. A fairlead 16 forms a smooth-edged opening for the mooring line12 to pass through the plate 15, which is stiffened by a reinforcing rib17, which rib carries a cleat 18.

As can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the drum 13 has two parallel sidecheeks 19, 20 spaced by a distance little more than twice the diameterof the mooring line 12 to ensure that, as the mooring line is wound ontoit there is minimal risk of adjacent turns clamping or jamming so thatmooring becomes difficult to unwind. Upon unwinding of the mooring line12 from the drum 13 a restoring force, sufficiently strong to rewind theline when its is no longer in use, is applied by a resilient biasingdevice comprising two parallel spring drums 21, 22 mounted on the reelsupport plate 14. The first drum 21 is carried by the axle 10 of thereel 13 and fixed to it for rotation therewith so that as the reel 13 isrotated the drum 21 turns identically. The drum 22, on the other hand,is freely rotatably mounted on the support plate 14 and carries, woundon it, a clock spring 23 the free end of which leads from the drum 22onto the drum 21 in a reverse rotational sense such that the spring hasreflex curvature at the point 24 between the two drums. As the reel 13is turned to unwind the mooring line 12, therefore, the drum 21 turnswith it and winds the clock spring off the drum 22, but turns the springin the opposite rotational sense so that the restoring force is appliedby the flexing of the spring at the drum 22. Unlike a conventionalclock-spring arrangement, in which the spirally wound leaf of the clockspring results in tightening of the coils as the spring tensionincreases, here the unwinding of the clock spring 23 does not tightenthe adjacent coils so that the restoring force remains substantiallyconstant even though many turns of the reel 13 may have been drawn off.

When mooring a vessel, of course, it would be inconvenient if themooring line were to be constantly trying to return on the reel 13driven by the rotational restoring force of the resilient biasingdevice. In order to avoid this a ratchet mechanism is provided whichacts against the action of the restoring force applied by the resilientbiasing device so that, as the mooring line 12 is drawn off, it can bereleased and will not rewind, making it available for use to connect itsfree end to a bollard or other fixed point on the shore or an adjacentvessel. This will result in a remaining spare length of line which canbe wound around the cleat 18. If, having done this, there is still asurplus length of line the ratchet mechanism can be released, in amanner which will be described in more detail below, to allow thesurplus length to be rewound onto the reel 13. Alternatively, if this ismore convenient for the user, having withdrawn a length of the mooringline 12 the part adjacent to the fairlead 16 can be wound around thecleat 18 leaving the free end of the line to be used in a conventionalmanner to secure the vessel to a bollard or other fixed point on theshore.

The ratchet mechanism itself comprises a toothed ratchet wheel 25, shownin FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, located between the fixed clock spring drum 21 andthe mounting plate 14, and rotatable with the drum 21 and the reel 13. Aratchet pawl 26 formed as a first order lever is also carried on theplate 14, and biased by a tension spring 27 to a position such that theratchet tooth 28 engages the teeth 29 of the ratchet wheel 25 and isheld in such engagement by the spring 27.

Ratchet release is effected by pressing on a fee end 29 of the firstorder lever carrying the ratchet pawl 26 by means of a spring-loadedfoot pedal arrangement generally indicated 30 and illustrated in moredetail in FIG. 5. The foot pedal 30 is carried on the deck mountingplate 15 and comprises a hollow cylindrical guide 31 within which islocated an inner sleeve 32 which projects from the bottom of the guidecylinder 31. An actuator rod 33 is slidably housed within the sleeve 32and has an enlarged head 34 projecting above the guide 31. The guide 31has an upper flange 35 which engages the upper surface of the deckmounting plate 15 and is held in place by a collar 36 clamped by grubscrews 37 to the under side of the deck plate 15. Between the upper endof the inner sleeve 32 and the lower face of the mushroom head 34 of theactuator rod is located a compression spring 38. In the lower end of theactuator rod 33 is an adjustor device in the form of a set screw 40threadedly engaged in a threaded hole 39 in the lower end of theactuator rod 33. The head of the set screw 38 engages the free end 29 ofthe first order lever 26 carrying or constituting the pawl, and bysuitably adjusting the set crew 38 any manufacturing tolerances can beaccommodated so that the device is adjusted for reliable operation. Thecompression spring 37 urges the actuator pin 33 upwardly so that themushroom head 34 projects just above the deck mounting plate 15 by asufficient distance that when it is depressed to be flush with the deckmounting plate 15 the excursion of the lower end, carrying the set screw38 displaces the free end of the lever 29 sufficient to release the pawltooth 28 reliably from the ratchet wheel 29. Upon release of themushroom head 34 the spring 37 returns the actuator rod 33 to itsoriginal position re-engaging the ratchet tooth 28 into the ratchetwheel 29. In use, therefore, as the mooring line 12 is withdrawn, theratchet automatically engages and prevents return of the line 12 so thatit is freely available for use. Regardless of the amount of linewithdrawn from the reel 13 the restoring force remains constant so thatthe operator does not have a more difficult task in withdrawing themooring line 12 from the reel 13 as it approaches the end of itsavailable length. When it is desired to release the ratchet and causedeliberate return of the line onto the reel 13 the operator simplyplaces his or her foot on the mushroom head 34, leaving both hands freeto manipulate the line as appropriate and/or to hold onto a handrail ifthe motion of the boat is sufficiently violent to require this, forexample due to rough seas or high winds.

Although a simple single-action release mechanism is described herein itis envisaged that a further embodiment (not illustrated) may be providedwith means by which the actuator pin 33 may be held in the operating(ratchet-release) position without it being necessary to maintain theoperator's foot on the push button. This may be by means of a simplebimorphic latch arrangement, or by a bayonet-type engagement requiring ahalf turn of the mushroom head 34 to lock it into position.

Likewise, in another embodiment (not shown) it is possible to lock theratchet against release so that it can be neither withdrawn norretracted, thereby obviating the need for a separate cleat 18. In orderto achieve this the interconnection between the lower end of theactuator pin 33 and the free end 29 of the pawl lever 26 can be soarranged that, instead of a simple contact between the set screw 38 andthe free end 29 of the pawl lever 26, a two-way interengagement may beprovided, for example by means of a lateral hook which can be engaged ina slot in the pawl lever upon turning the pin 33 through a fractionalturn, for example using a knurled peripheral surface of the mushroomhead 34. Such an arrangement ensures that the ratchet cannot turn ineither direction. This can be maintained by the strength of the spring37, or alternatively a mechanical interlock between the pin 33 and thesleeve 32 or the guide cylinder 31.

It is possible to design an alternative embodiment of the inventionutilising two rope clutches in opposite orientations, one to preventrewinding, and therefore act in the same way as the ratchet, and theother to take the strain of snatching loads and secure the rope at itscorrect extended length and thus take the place of the cleat. Releasingboth clutches allows the rope to run freely in both directions andreleasing each independently allows the rope to run freely one way orthe other as desired. This can be achieved using two oppositely-directedselectively releasable unidirectional clutches, acting on the reelitself or its axle, or may be achieved by acting directly on the lineitself. FIG. 6 illustrates one way in which this can be achieved byacting directly on the line. In this embodiment the reel (or reels) arespaced from the deck penetration and securing assembly which is shown inFIG. 6. Most boats have an anchor well or locker at the bow, whichoccupies considerable space. When a vessel is moored at a marina it isusual to have two bow ropes each running off at an angle to secure thebow in a lateral direction. For this purpose there may be two deckpenetration and securing sub-assemblies each with a rope clutch orcleat. The ropes penetrate the deck and run over under-deck pulleys to apair of drum reeling devices located under the deck, preferably in theregion of the anchor locker. In FIG. 6 one such deck penetration andsecuring sub-assembly is shown. A boat may be fitted with one or moresuch sub-assembly, one for each mooring line with which the boat isequipped.

FIG. 6 illustrates an under-deck assembly generally indicated 50 carriedbeneath a part of the deck 51 and remote from the reels described inrelation to FIGS. 1 to 5. A mounting plate 52 projects downwardly fromthe deck 51 and carries two guide pulleys 53, 54 which guide a line 55to follow a path from an opening 56 through the deck 51 along a straightpath between the pulleys 53, 54 between two jamming cleats 57, 58 and acounter-surface 59. From the pulley 53 the line leads to the reel (notshown).

As is known in the yachting world a jamming cleat comprises a pivotedbody with a roughened or ridged surface for contacting a line. A springbiases the cleat body in one direction press its ridged surface againstthe line, and this jamming action is reinforced if the line experiencesa tension tending to turn the cleat in the same direction as the springbias. When a tension in the opposite direction is applied to the line itcan move freely, and the cleat body is turned slightly against theaction of the biasing spring by the contact between the line and theridged surface. The cleats 57, 58 further have release mechanisms in theform of push rods 60, 61 which can be actuated by foot-operated pushbuttons 62, 63 projecting just above the deck 51. The spring biasing isnot shown in FIG. 6 but acts to turn the cleat 57 clockwise as seen inFIG. 6. The cleat 58 is spring biased counter clockwise. This springbiasing presses respective ridged surfaces 63, 64 of the cleat bodies57, 58 into contact with the line 55, clamping it against movement ineither direction. If the foot button 63 is depressed the cleat 58 isturned clockwise out of engagement with the line 55 which can then bedrawn in, moving in a direction from the pulley 54 towards the pulley53. Attempted movement in the reverse direction results in jamming ofthe cleat 57. Likewise, when the button 62 is depressed the line can bedrawn out but is jammed by the cleat 58 if it starts to move in (left toright in FIG. 6) if both buttons 62, 63 are depressed the line 55 canmove freely in both directions.

In order to slow the movement of the line when being drawn in there mayalso be provided a damper (not shown) which conveniently acts on themain spool to slow the rate at which the mooring line is drawn in whenthe jamming device or cleats are released. This may be a unidirectionaldamper or a bi-directional damper connected to the reel by aunidirectional clutch. The line can thus be drawn out freely with noresistance but will not be drawn in so rapidly that it presents a hazardto the user.

Embodiments can also be envisaged in which the mooring line is arrangedto serve also as an anchor line thus reducing space requirements orproviding back-up for the main anchor line.

While various embodiments of the invention have been described, it willbe apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many moreembodiments and implementations are possible that are within the scopeof this invention. In addition, the various features, elements, andembodiments described herein may be claimed or combined in anycombination or arrangement.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for storing and dispensing at leastone boat mooring line, comprising: a reel onto which a mooring line or arespective mooring line can be wound; resilient biasing means urging thereel to rotate in a direction such as to wind in the line; aunidirectional clutch mechanism acting, when engaged, in opposition tothe resilient biasing means; foot-operated means for selectivelydisengaging the unidirectional clutch whereby to allow the line to bewound in by the said resilient biasing means; and means for securing theline when partly withdrawn against further withdrawal from the reel. 2.The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said means for securing the linecomprises a cleat fixed or fixable to a casing of the apparatus or tothe boat.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said means for securingthe line comprises means for locking the reel against rotation in eitherdirection.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said means for lockingthe reel against rotation acts to lock said unidirectional clutchmechanism.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said resilient biasingmeans act to provide a substantially constant restoring force as theline is withdrawn from the reel.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5, whereinsaid resilient biasing means comprise a spirally wound strip spring witha reflex curvature.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said spirallywound strip spring is carried on a spool freely rotatably mounted on acarrier member on which the said reel is also rotatably mounted, asecondary spool coaxial with and mounted for rotation with the saidspool being connected to a free end of the said strip spring whereby tounwind it from the said spring carrier spool as the reel is turned inthe directional sense corresponding to unwinding of the mooring linefrom the reel.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said unidirectionalclutch is a ratchet and pawl arrangement, the ratchet teeth being formedon or carried by the said spool or on a component mounted for rotationtherewith.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said pawl is urged intoengagement with the ratchet teeth by pawl biasing means.
 10. Theapparatus of claim 9, wherein said pawl is formed as a first order leverand said ratchet disengagement means comprise a push rod one end whichis contactable with the pawl lever, the push rod being linearlydisplaceable between a first, or release position and a second, orratchet engagement, position.
 11. The apparatus of claim 10, whereinsaid push rod is independently biased towards the said ratchetengagement position.
 12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said pushrod has an exposed end remote from said one, pawl-contacting, endthereof, for effecting operation ratchet disengagement.
 13. Theapparatus of claim 2, wherein said client is a jamming cleat.
 14. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein said reel is mounted on a reel supportmember which depends from a support plate mountable parallel to the deckof the boat.
 15. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said ratchet iscarried on or for rotation with the secondary spool on the side of thereel support member remote from the said reel itself.
 16. The apparatusof claim 1, wherein a second unidirectional clutch acts in an oppositedirectional sense from the said unidirectional clutch, there being meansfor selectively disengaging one clutch or the other to allow the line tobe drawn in or paid out respectively.
 17. The apparatus of claim 16,wherein said two unidirectional clutches are respective ratchet and pawlarrangements, the ratchet teeth being formed or carried by the saidspool or a component mounted for rotation therewith.
 18. The apparatusof claim 16, wherein said two unidirectional clutches are jamming cleatsacting directly on the line itself.
 19. The apparatus of claim 16,wherein said means for selectively disengaging a unidirectional clutchis operable by means of a foot pedal or foot-operated push button. 20.The apparatus of claim 1, wherein there are provided means for dampingor braking the motion of the line in at least one direction of motion.21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein said damping or braking meansacts on the spool or a component mounted for rotation therewith.
 22. Theapparatus of claim 21, wherein said damping or braking means act to damprotation in one direction and offer substantially no resistance tomotion in the other.
 23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said dampingor braking means act in both directions of rotation and are connected tothe said spool or component mounted for rotation therewith by aunidirectional clutch.
 24. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising a reelonto which a mooring line can be wound, a constant-tension resilientbiasing means for urging the reel to turn in a sense such as to wind theline onto the reel, and means for securing the line against withdrawalfrom the reel.
 25. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising at least onereel onto which a mooring line can be wound, the reel having twoparallel spaced lateral cheeks separated by a distance not substantiallygreater than twice the diameter of the mooring line itself, whereby toavoid the risk of jamming of adjacent turns of the mooring line whenwound onto the reel.
 26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein there aretwo or more reels, for receiving respective mooring lines, in a commonsupport structure or housing.
 27. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising areel onto which a mooring line can be wound, resilient biasing means forurging the reel to turn in a sense such as to wind the line onto thereel, and means for securing the line against withdrawal from the reel.28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein said means for securing the lineagainst withdrawal from the reel is a rope clutch.